The present invention relates to a transformable toy provided with an extension and contraction structure, which comprises a plurality of components connected in order via connecting mechanisms. The extension and contraction structure of this invention extends and contracts in a direction where the plurality of components are arranged.
As shown in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. H05-82233 (Patent Document 1), Patent No. 2899783 (Patent Document 2), the conventional transformable toys have employed an extension and contraction structure for connecting two component units with a simple sliding mechanism.
Conventional extension and contraction structures can only produce transformations of just extending and contracting linearly. Such transformations give the user a very simple impression without any unpredictable nature of transformations.
An object of the present invention is to provide a transformable toy capable of transformations which are more unpredictable than those according to the prior art.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a transformable toy capable of transformations based not only on extension and contraction but also on bending.
The present invention is directed to a transformable toy provided with an extension and contraction structure capable of extending and contracting, which comprises a plurality of components connected via connecting mechanisms.
The extension and contraction structure includes a first to nth (n is a positive integer of 3 or more) components which are connected in order via a first to n−1th connecting mechanisms respectively, and is constructed to extend and contract in a direction where the first to nth components are arranged. The first component is fixed to a fixed portion of the transformable toy. A slide type connecting mechanism, which connects the first component and the second component so that the first and second components can slide in the direction where the components are arranged, is used as the first connecting mechanism that connects the first component and the second component. The second component is adapted to be fitted in the first component. With this arrangement, the slide type connecting mechanism is constructed in such a manner that the second component may slide with respect to the first component between a first position where the second component is entered most deeply inside the first component and a second position where the second component is entered least deeply inside the first component. One or more of the second to n−1th connecting mechanisms except the first connecting mechanism is a rotary type connecting mechanism that connects two adjoining components in such a manner that the two adjoining components can rotate or tilt with respect to each other in a predetermined angular range. The first to nth components are constructed in such a manner that all or most of the third to nth components may be received inside the first component when the second component is located in the first position.
The extension and contraction structure of the present invention is capable of obtaining a large amount of extension and contraction by pulling out the second component up to the second position. This allows the user to feel an unpredictable nature of transformation when the pulled-out second to nth components can be seen. Moreover, the structure of the second to nth components can attain slight extending and contracting transformation and bending since rotation or tilting in a predetermined angular range is obtained between two adjoining components connected by the rotary type connecting mechanism. As a result, the user can recognize much more unpredictable transformations than ever and enjoy such transformations much more than ever.
Preferably, the transformable toy of the present invention further comprises an engaging portion and an engaged portion that are engaged when the second component is located in the first or second position, and are disengaged when the second component is located in the first or second position and is positively applied a force to cause a slide movement between the first component and the second component. Preferably, one of the engaging portion and the engaged portion is provided to the first component and the other is provided to the second component. With this arrangement, the second component does not slide merely by inclining or tilting the transformable toy, and the transformed configuration of the extension and contraction structure can be kept more reliably.
The rotary type connecting mechanism comprises a rotating shaft provided to one of the two components which are connected to each other by the rotary type connecting mechanism, and extending in a direction which crosses (preferably, orthogonal to) the direction where the plurality of components are arranged, a connected portion provided to the other of the two components, and rotatably connected to the rotating shaft, and a stopper which defines a rotation range of the other component rotating around the rotating shaft. When the rotary type connecting mechanism is used, the two components are rotated or tilted in a predetermined angular range around the rotating shaft. Since rotational/tilting operation is limited by the stopper, application of a force, which is strong enough to destroy the connecting mechanism, to each component can be prevented.
All of the second to n−1th connecting mechanisms connecting the second to nth components in order may comprise the rotary type connecting mechanisms. With this arrangement, the second to nth components pulled out from the first component can be bent most greatly. As a result, transformation into a long neck, a long body, or a long tail can be attained easily.
The rotating shafts of the second to n−1th connecting mechanisms (the number of shafts is n−2) are arranged in a row along a hypothetical center line extending through the center of a row of the components arranged therein and in a direction where the components are arranged. The stoppers of the second to n−1th connecting mechanisms, located in n−2 positions, are arranged along the hypothetical center line and opposite to the rotating shafts with respect to the hypothetical center line. With this arrangement, the hypothetical center line can always curve in the shape of an arch or an arc, and the extension and contraction structure, which can easily form a long-necked doll toy such as a long-necked dinosaur and a long-necked monster, can be acquired.
When the components used are first to fourth components, the extension and contraction structure can be constructed as follows. The second component includes a first fitted hole that is surrounded by a peripheral wall and is opening toward one direction, and a first connected portion disposed further than the first fitted hole in the one direction. The third component includes a first fitting portion loosely fitted in the first fitted hole, a first rotating shaft to which the first connected portion is connected, a second fitted hole that is surrounded by a peripheral wall and is opening toward the one direction, a second connected portion disposed further than the second fitted hole in the one direction. The fourth component includes a second fitting portion fitted loosely in the second fitted hole, and the second rotating shaft to which the second connected portion is connected. With this arrangement, the second to fourth components can be connected easily only by making connections between the rotating shafts and the connected portions. In this case, one stopper is constituted by a part of an inner wall portion of the first fitted hole and a part of an outer wall portion of the first fitting portion that contacts the part of the inner wall portion of the first fitted hole, and another stopper is constituted by a part of an inner wall portion of the second fitted hole and a part of an outer wall portion of the second fitting portion that contacts the part of the inner wall portion of the second fitted hole. Thus, the stoppers can be constituted without providing any special configuration for the stopper. In addition, manufacturing thereof becomes easy.
The extension and contraction structure of the present invention may be used for any part of the transformable toy which can change its appearance by transforming a part of the body. In the case of a long-necked toy doll, what is necessary is just to apply the extension and contraction structure of the present invention to the neck section. In the case of a long-tailed toy doll, what is necessary is just to apply the extension and contraction structure of the present invention to the formation of the tail. The extension and contraction structure of the present invention can further be used for an arm section and a leg section.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Inside the upper-half body of the toy robot 1, first to fourth components 35, 37, 39, 41 constituting the extension and contraction structure of the neck section 19 are received. The first to fourth components (5-41 are connected in order via first to third connecting mechanisms respectively. The first component 35 is fixed to the inner part of the upper-half body 33 (fixed section) of the toy robot 1. The first component 35 is shaped in a box having an opening 35a in the upper part thereof. As well shown in
A rotary type connecting mechanism, which is capable of connecting two adjoining components so that the two connected components can rotate or tilt with respect to each other within a predetermined angular range, is employed for a second connecting mechanism that connects the second component 37 and the third component 39, and for a third connecting mechanism that connects the third component 39 and the fourth component 41. This rotary type connecting mechanism will be explained below with reference to
More concretely, the second component 37 includes a first fitted hole 37b which is surrounded by a peripheral wall portion 37a and is opening toward one direction, and a first connected portion 47a located higher than the first fitted hole 37b. The first connected portion 47a has a through hole 47a1 through which the rotating shaft 45a fits in. The third component 39 includes a first fitting portion 39a to fit loosely in the first fitted hole 37b of the second component 37, the first rotating shaft 45a to which the first connected portion 47a is connected, a second fitted hole 39b which is surrounded by a peripheral wall portion 39a and is opening at least upwardly, and the second connected portion 47b located higher than the second fitted hole 39b. The second connected portion 47b has a through hole 47b1 through which the rotating shaft 45b fits in. The fourth component 41 includes a fitting portion 41a which loosely fits in the second fitted hole 39b of the third component 39, and the second rotating shaft 45b to which the second connected portion 47b of the third component 39 is connected.
With this arrangement, the second to fourth components 37-41 can be easily connected only by making connections between the rotating shafts 45a, 45b and the connected portions 47a, 47b, respectively. The stopper 49a is constituted by a part of an inner wall portion of the first fitted hole 37b and a part of an outer wall portion of the first fitting portion 39a that contacts the part of the inner wall portion of the first fitted hole. The stopper 49b is constituted by a part of an inner wall portion of the second fitted hole 39b and a part of an outer wall portion of the second fitting portion 41a that contacts the part of the inner wall portion of the second fitted hole. With this arrangement, the stoppers can be constituted without providing a special structure for the stopper. As a result, the construction of the extension and contraction structure becomes simpler, and what is more, the manufacturing process thereof becomes easy.
In this embodiment, all of the second and third connecting mechanisms that connect the second to fourth components in order are constructed by the rotary type connecting mechanisms. Therefore, it becomes possible to bend most greatly the second to fourth components 37-41 which are pulled out from the first component 35 (refer to
In this embodiment, as shown in
According to the present embodiment, a large amount of extension and contraction can be obtained by pulling out the second component 37 to the second positions (in the second positions the rolling balls 38 are entered into the upper engaged portions 36b as shown in
The above-mentioned extension and contraction structure may be used for any part of a transformable toy capable of changing its figure by transforming a part of its body. In the case of a toy doll with a long neck, what is necessary is just to apply the extension and contraction structure of the present invention to the neck section. In the case of a toy doll which has a long tail 34 as shown in
The extension and contraction structure of the present invention has such advantages that a large amount of extension and contraction is obtainable by pulling out the second component up to the second position and that the user can feel an unpredictable nature of transformation due to the appearance of the pulled-out second to nth components. Moreover, rotation or tilting in a predetermined angular range is obtained between two components connected to each other by the rotary type connecting mechanism. Therefore, the connecting portions of the second to nth components can obtain slight extending and contracting transformation and bending transformation. As a result, the user can feel a more unpredictable nature of transformation than ever. In addition, the pleasure of transforming a toy can be increased much more.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2003-423890 | Dec 2003 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/JP2004/018954 | 12/17/2004 | WO | 00 | 6/19/2006 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2005/058446 | 6/30/2005 | WO | A |
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63-311985 | Dec 1988 | JP |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20070155276 A1 | Jul 2007 | US |